[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 109 (Tuesday, August 9, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         SHEEP PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ACT OF 1994

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. President, I rise in support of the Sheep Promotion, 
Research, and Information Act of 1994. This most important piece of 
legislation offers the sheep industry the same opportunity afforded to 
all other commodity groups, the ability to promote their industry to 
the consumer.
  When the National Wool Act was so swiftly eliminated last year, the 
authority for the sheep industry's 40-year-old self-help program for 
lamb and wool promotion was also unintentionally terminated. With the 
elimination of the Wool Act still so very fresh in the minds of Members 
of Congress and based on the erroneous belief that the program was an 
antiquated World War II program, Congress at a minimum, should be 
agreeable to helping the sheep industry compete with foreign producers 
and ``leveling the playing field'' with a program that costs the 
Federal Government nothing. The checkoff program is paid for entirely 
by the lamb and wool industries.
  That said, I must point out that the industry must prepare for some 
major changes. I believe all of American agriculture would benefit 
greatly by throwing away its ``Government crutches'' for subsides and 
tariffs on foreign products. I know that it will be hard to even fathom 
that possibility.
  But, without reasonable alternatives to the old programs and phase-
down periods that are fair and equitable, American agriculture will 
continue to crusade for farm programs that are not market driven, 
programs that have been coddled them into an unhealthy reliance on 
Government support. The sheep industry wants the authority to compete 
with foreign producers--they are not asking for a handout.
  We can all agree that this industry must promote itself. That message 
was clear last year when at the rap of the gavel only 36 Members 
supported the National Wool Act. Almost $1 billion is currently spent 
annually on advertisements and research efforts to expand or at least 
maintain the demand for U.S. agricultural commodities. Through 
mandatory assessments on producers--or checkoffs--promotion activities 
are devised to provide consumers with specific information about the 
product.
  Most studies indicate positive rates of return for checkoff programs. 
Checkoff programs are a beneficial self-help marketing tool that the 
Senate should support. I urge my colleagues to support his important 
legislation, and I am very please to be a cosponsor.

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